Weft replenishing loom



Feb..23,.1943. a RQUWER ETAL 2,312,146 I WEFT REPT JENISHING LOOM I I I 7 Filed April 14, 1942 5 sheets-Snead INvENToRs WH LT E.R A .fPA'frafisbN 3 EN :mMm W. iBnouwav.

ATTORNEY] Patented Feb. 23, 1943 WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Benjamin W. Brouwer, Auburn, and Walter A.

Patterson, Worcester, Mass,

assignors to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester,

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 14, 1942, Serial No. 438,914

23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide mechanism whereby a shuttle can be replenished from a plurality of stacks of reserve bobbins.

One form of the usual multicolor weft replenishing loom employs four stacks of reserve bobbins to replenish each of four shuttles carrying four different types of weft corresponding to the stacks of reserve bobbins. It is occasionally desirable to use a loom provided with this type of mechanism for weaving a fabric with two shuttles, and utilize the full capacity of the magazine to replenish the shuttles. It is an important object of our present invention to provide means whereby each of two shuttles can be replenished by bobbins drawn from a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins.

Multicolor weft replenishing magazines ordinarily employ cradles controlled by vertical slides or releasers which are reciprocated by a color slide or releaser actuator movable longitudinally into register with the slides one at a time and having also rocking motions in opposite directions to reciprocate the releasers. It is customary to give the color slide four different positions when four stacks of reserve bobbins are used in the magazine. It is another object of our present invention to provide means for giving the color slide only two positions, one for each of the weaving shuttles, and alter the releasers so that two of them can be moved when the color slide is in one of its two positions. By this arrangement a simple connection can be provided between the box motion and the color slide while at the same time full advantage can be taken of the capacity of the magazine.

When two stacks of bobbins are assigned to a shuttle as in the present instance it is desirable that successively released bobbins be derived from different stacks in order that the pair of stacks may be depleted uniformly as successive replenishing operations of the loom occur. It

is a further object of our invention to provide of operative movement of actuator, and control the pivoted lugs so that they are alternately in the path. This latter result may be achieved by means of a lug positioner which changes its position each time a reserve bobbin of the associated pair of stacks moves toward transfer position.

While the invention will be set forth as applicable to two shuttles and two pairs of bobbin stacks, certain features of the invention can be used with but one pair of bobbin stacks when a single shuttle is used, or when the pattern is such that two or more transfers may occur while a single band in the pattern is being woven by one shuttle.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, our invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of our invention is set forth,

Fig. l is a front elevation of a loom made according to our present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the magazine looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed enlarged views of a portion of Fig. 2 showing the bobbin releasers and parts associated therewith in different posi-.- tions,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 55 of Fig. 3, parts being omitted,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 66 of Fig. 3 showing diagrammatically the releaser depressing lugs and the relation which they sustain to their actuators when the front pair of stacks of the magazine can supply a reserve bobbin,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing the position of the actuation when the rear pair of stacks can supply a reserve bobbin,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged rear elevation looking in the direction of arrow 8, Fig. 3 showing one of the pivoted lugs,

Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal section on line 99, Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow I0, Fig. 8, with portions of the adjacent bobbin releaser added.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a loom frame In supports a lay l l which is reciprocated backwardly and forwardly in the usual manner by means of connectors I2. In the present instance the left hand end of the loom is provided with a gang G of shuttle boxes having upper and lower boxes I l and I5, respectively, connected to a box lifter rod [6 surrounded by a lifting spring ll. The lower end of the latter engages the top of a sleeve 13 which slides vertically in a rocker foot 19 mounted on the usual rocker shaft 20 about which the lay rocks. Rod 15 passes through sleeve l8 and a box lifter chain 2|, connected to the sleeve I3, is trained over lay carried sheaves 22 and then down around a sheave 23 rotatable on the loom frame. The chain then extends upwardly around a sheave 24 on the loom frame and is connected to a box motion designated generally herein at 25. Theinvention is more particularly applicable to the so-called Knowles loom although it is not limited in its uses to this type of loom. Such a loom is provided with a head K which includes the box motion 25, and has upper and lower mutilated cylinders 28 and 2-9 rotating in opposite directions as usual to move a vibrator gear '30 either in a right or left hand direction, depending upon its vertical position as determined by the pattern chain 3!. The mechanism is connected to the vibrator gear and raises and lowers the gang G so that either of its shuttle boxes can be in active position for the picking of the shuttles SI and S2 in boxes 14 and I5, respectively,

In the present instance the opposite or right hand end of the loom as viewed in Fig. 1 is provided with a single shuttle box which receives the shuttles Si and S2 one at a time when they are picked from the gang G. A weft replenis'hing mechanism of the multicolor type designated at M is mounted on the loom frame over the shuttle box 35 and except for certain modifications to be pointed out hereinafter may be made in the usual manner and be similar to the mechanism shown in prior Patent No. 1,030,748. Mechanism M comprises inner and outer plates 31 and 38 between which are located in the present instance four stacks of reserve bobbins Bl, B2, B3 and B4.

As shown in Fig. 2 the lower end of eachstack of bo bbin's is provided with a releasing cradle 40 normally empty and controlled as to its angular position by a'vertically movable bobbin releaser. The slides are indicated herein at 41, 42, 43 and 44 and correspond respectively to the stacks El, B2, B3 and B4. The slides are normally down but are raised by mechanism to be described hereinafter so that their corresponding cradles may be rocked to receive a bobbin and move it toward transfer position. Subsequently the raised slide is lowered to rock the cradle reversely to discharge the bobbin and let it fall to the transfer position designated at B, Fig. 2. for transfer into whichever shuttle is in box 35.

When a slide rises a dog 45 pivoted on its upper end moves over a shelf 46 secured to a top shaft 41 rockably mounted on plate 31. When the raised slide is later depressed its dog engages the shelf to rock shaft 41 in a clockwise direction, see Fig. 1, causing depression of a rod 48 to lift transfer latch 49 into the path of a bunter 58 mounted on the lay. At the same time rod 5! is raised to rock the shuttle position detector and thread cutter mechanism 52 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 around its pivot 53. When the transfer latch is raised and the shuttle position detector is in rear position the magazine is set for transfer and this condition is created by depression of a 7 previously raised slide. As the lay advances the The shuttles SI transferrer arm 55 is lowered in usual manner to insert the bobbin in the transfer position 13 into the shuttle in shuttle box 35.

A selector lever is pivoted as at 6% with respect to the plate 37 and is normally held in the full line position shown in Fig. 2 by the spring 52. A flexible connector 63 attached to lever 6i] extends across the loom and is attached to the chain 2| in such a way that the lever is in the full line position shown in Fig. 2 when box l4 and shuttle SI are active, but when the chain 2! moves to raise the gang G and place box i5 and shuttle S2 in active position the lever E55 will move rearwardly to the dotted line position shownin Fig, 2. This latter part of the construction is similar to that which has been employed heretofore when two shuttles have been replenished from a two-stack magazine, one stack for each shuttle.

The upper'end of lever '58 is connected to a rod 68 horizontally slidabl'e on the frame 3'! and having secured thereto an actuator 63 having a web 10 which is 'op'erativeiy connected to the upper end of a rod 1 i'. The lower end of rod H is connected to a floating lever i2 mounted on the upper end of a vertically reciprocab'le head 13 on the top of a rod 14 which extends downwardly for actuation by a lever '55. A cam it on the bottom shaft 'l'i'of the loom rocks the lever 15, causing the floating lever to move downwardly on detectingv beats of the loom when a shuttle occupies box 35 and the lay is in front center position. Whether rod H is depressed at this time depends upon the condition of weft in the box 55 as determined by a detector D. If sufficient weft for continued Weaving is present lever i2 moves downwardly'without affecting rod H, but if the shuttle in box 35 is depleted of weft the normal motion of the floating lever- 12 is interrupted and rod 1! is lowered to cause a rocking of shaft 63 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1.

shifting gang G, cam [6 acts to raise floating lever 12 and cause upward motion of rod 'H the result of which is to give the shaft SB-a reverse rocking in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. This latter rocking of the shaft 68 occurs every other pick of the loom subsequent can be built to cause shifting of box gang'G every second pick of the loom so that the shuttles Si and S2 are active in-alternation each for two successive picks, or the shuttles can be active for longer periods of successive picks if it is desired to weave a fabric having relatively wide stripes. and '82 can carry distinctive weft if desired or can both carry the same general type of weft, in which case all the bobbins in the magazine M will be of the same kind.

In carrying our present invention into effect we provide means by which stacks Bi and 132 can provide reserve bobbins alternately-for successive replenishments of shuttle SI and by'which the rear stacks B3'an'd B4 can similarly provide bobbins for the replenishment of shuttle S2. The actuator 69 has front and back horizontally After the shuttlein box 35 has been picked to the opposite side of the loom and time has been allowed for extending actuator arms 80 and BI, respectively, which are provided for the front and back pairs of vertical slides. The vertical slides 4| and 42 are provided each with an integral depressing lug 82, both of which lie under arm 80 when the actuator is in forward position corresponding to the full line position shown in Fig. 2. The rear pair of vertical slides 43 and 44 are similarly provided each with an integral lug 83 which lies under the arm 8| when the actuator is in the rear position corresponding to the dotted line position of lever 60 in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that the arms 89 and 8| are alternately operatively related to their pairs of lugs 82 and 83, respectively.

An important feature of our present invention res1des in replacing the usual upper lugs on the vertical releaser slides by pivoted lugs which are movable into and out of the path of the actuator arms 80 and 8| when the latter move upwardly incident to indication of weft exhaustion. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the slides 4|, 42, 43 and 44 are provided, respectively, with pivoted lugs 9|, 92, 93 and 94. These lugs move about their pivots 90 on the vertical slides and each is provided with a lifting finger 95 having a lower lifting surface 96 for engagement with its actu-- ator arm. Each of the pivoted lugs is also provided with a surface 91 which is inclined downwardly and away from the corresponding pivot 90 to terminate at a point below the pivot. Furthermore, each of the pivoted lugs is provided with a stop 98 for engagement with a part 99 of the corresponding vertical slide. There is some slight variation between the different pivoted lugs but each is provided with the parts already described so that when the pivoted lug is in working position its surface 96 will be horizontal and over the corresponding actuator arm with the associated stop. 98 engaging some part of its vertical slide. Each pivoted lug is counterweighted and tends to hold its finger 95' horizontal and its stop in engagement with the associated slide. The stops are so located as to assist by their weight to hold their lugs in normal position. Unless acted upon by mechanisms to be described hereinafter, therefore, the lugs tend to move to operative position with respect to their actuator arms and when in this operative position are capable of causing upward motion of their corresponding vertical slides when lifted.

Each pair of vertical slides is associated with a positioner for the corresponding pivoted lugs. The purpose of each positioner is to permit but one pivoted lug of the associated pair to be operatively related to the corresponding actuator arm at a time. Since the front and back positioners I03 and I04, respectively, are similar, the details of but one of them will be set forth, namely, that for the front pair of slides.

The positioner I03 comprises a four-armed rocking lever having front and back horizontal arms I05 and I06, respectively, and a vertical arm I01. A stud I03 carried by a bracket I09 secured on the frame 31 is located preferably midway between the vertical paths of travel of the slides 4| and 42 and affords a pivot around which the positioner I03 rocks. The arm I05 is positioned for engagement with vertical slide 4| when the latter rises, and in similar manner arm I06 is engaged by vertical slide 42.

The fourth arm IIO of positioner I03 extends downwardly and is secured to a depending spring II I the lower end of which may b broadenedat M2 for engagement with the lifting fingers 95 of-the pivoted lugs 9| and 92. In order that the lower ends of the positioning spring III may be retained yieldingly either in right or left hand position as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, we provide a flat spring II5 extending over a stud II6 carried by the bracket I09. The front end of spring 5 extends under a pressure pin I20 on bracket I09 and then extends forwardly to engage the upright arm I01. In a similar manner the rear end of the spring I I5 extends under a second pressure pin |2| and then projects rearwardly to engage the arm I0'I of the rear positioning lever I04. The point of engagement between the spring and the positioning lever will normally be either to the right or the left of a vertical line passing through the pivot s'tud I08, and the spring II5 therefore serves to hold each positioner in either of its two positions. A crimp III on each end of the spring I I5 assists in definitely locating the corresponding positioner. Bolts II8 may be used to hold the bracket I09 in position on magazine plate 31.

'In operation, the actuator rod 68 is moved backwardly and forwardly as already described to locate the arms and 8| in either of two operat= ing positions. When shuttle SI is active and the actuator 69 is in the front position, arm 80 can cooperate with the lugs of the front pair of vertical slides 4| and 42 while the rear arm BI is out of operating relation with respect to its lugs 43 and 44. When there is a shift of the gang G to render shuttle S2 in box I5 active, arm 80 will move rearwardly out of register with its lugs and the arm 8| will move to operative position with respect to the lugs on the slides 43 and 44. The actuator 69 is therefore seen to have but two positioners, one for each pair of bobbin releasing vertical slides.

Assuming that the magazine is in the condition shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and that shuttle SI is temporarily active, arm 80 will be moved to its forward operating position over and in register with the bottom lugs 82, as shown in Fig. 6. The positioner spring III of positioner I03 under this assumption has been rocked to the right to turn lug 9| to the inoperative full line position shown in Fig. 3. Pivoted lug 92 is therefore free to swing to the operative full line position shown in Fig. 3 with its arm over the actuator arm 80. For convenience the same condition is assumed to exist in Fig. 3 for the rear pair of vertical slides 43 and 44 and their positioner I04.

Since shuttle SI is active the arms 80 and 8| will be in the position indicated in Figs. 3 and 6, and if there is sufficient weft for continued weaving in this shuttle the fingers will remain unmoved when the detector D performs its detecting function when shuttle SI is at the magazine end of the loom. If, however, the shuttle is depleted of weft arm 60 will rise as already described and in doing so will engage lug 92 with resultant upward motion of slide 42. As the latter slide nears the upper limit of its motion it will engage arm I06 of the positioner and rock the latter from the full to the dotted line position of Fig. 3. The positioner will always be free to rock in this direction because under these conditions the other vertical slide 4| of the pair will be down and will not interfere with lowering of arm I05. When the positioner I03 rocks the spring III moves rearwardly to the left position of Fig. 3 and engages the inclined surface 91 of lug 92. As soon as arm 80 moves downwardly from its high position spring III will rock lug 92 to the dotted position shown in Fig. 3 out of operative position with respect to the arm 80. Simultaneously, the front lug 9| pair of releasing slides. operate in a manner similar to that already der *leaser slide.

wili rock to the dotted operative position of Fig. ,3, or the full line position of Fig. 4, so thatits lifting finger 95 will be over arm 80.

The next time shuttle SI requires replenishment arm 80 will rise and engage lug BI to lift the front slide II. As the latter reaches its high posi- -t-ion the positioner I03 will again be rocked, this time to the left, and the spring III of positioner '1 M will effect a reversal in the relation of the lugs BI and .92 with respect to arm 30. It is to be understood that one of the regularly recurring down'motions of arm 80 which occursat twoepick intervals will always occur between the successive detecting operations of the detector 'D, hence when either of the slides 41 or 42 is in raised posi+ tion it will be lowered by an engagement of the arm 89 with one or another of the lugs '82 before the other vertical slide of the pair can rise.

It will thus be seen that successive replenish-- ments of shuttle SI cause alternate rising of the slides II and 42. the actuation of the vertical slides is to cause the reserve bobbins of the corresponding stacks to be delivered in a regular order so that neither stack becomes depleted while any considerable number ofzreservebobbins remain in the other stack of the "same pair.

'It'is not believed necessary to describe 'in'detail 'the operaticn of the rear pair of vertical slides and the positioner I04 and their pivoted lugs 93 and EM. Whenever the gang G is in position torender shuttle S2 active actuator arm BI will be in rear position, see Fig. '7, and operatively related to its The positioner I04 will scribed in connection with positioner I83 to cause alternate rising of the slides 93 and 94 for successive replenishments of the shuttle S2.

It is customary in weft replenishing mechanisms of the general type set forth herein toprovide means for holding the bobbin releaser slides inthe-ir normallow and temporary high positions. -InFig. 9 we show the customary spring plungers used for this purpose and the manner in which I they are mounted. The magazine plate 3'! is pro- 'vided with guide lugs I for the vertical slides and a block I26, one for each pair of releas'er slides, is held by bolts 521 tocertain of-the guides I25. The' block has slidable therein a-plunger I28 for each vertical slide and each plunger has a head I29 to enter top and bottom notchesl3ll and I3 I, respectively, of the associated releaser slides. Each plunger is surrounded by a compression spring i32 which urges the plunger'head I29 into one or'the other of the notches of -the 'corres-ponding vertical slide. That part of the block I25 adjacent to the plate 31 is spaced from the-latter to define an opening I35 through which the spring Il'I extends.

The relation between the springs II I, I I5 and I32 is such that the positioners will be held as already described. When an actuator arm raises one of the pivoted lugs the corresponding releaser slide'engages the associated positioner to rock the latter and move its spring II I against the rising pivoted lug. As the actuator arm starts down after reaching its high position the plunger head will be in the bottom notch I3I and will hold the releaser slide up and will cooperate with spring H5 to prevent the spring III from turning "its a direction to lower the raised re- This condition is due to the fact that the action of springs I I5 and I32 is stronger than that of spring I II. When the actuator arm positioner in moves down away from the raised pivoted lug,"the a The effect of this alternation in' spring III moves toward the corresponding r e-. leaser slide to rock the pivoted lug to inactive position. The spring iI-II will always be under somestra'in tending to move the associated positioner toward a neutral position, but the Swing I I5 will best-rung enough to resist this tendency.

If the loom is adapted for the weaving of a single color fabric in which the weft is to be mixed by *tWo shuttles, actuator arm will "be aligned with the front pair of release slides on the first pair of picks, arm 82 will be registered with the back pair of releaser slides for the second pair of picks, arm 80 will again be registered with the front pair of slides for the third pair of picks etc. When operated in this 'way'both shuttles are active for approximately the same number of picks, and since each shuttle is replenished by bobbins drawn alternately from the corresponding stacks, substantially the full capacity of the magazine may b utilized before the bobbin attendant need again fill the magazine. If, on the other hand, the loom is weavin a fabric having two types of weft, the pattern may require two picks of one color followed by two picks of the other color and the magazine will become empty as already described. Each shuttle will'be replenished by bobbins drawn from its own pair of stacks, and th airs will therefore carry reserve bobbins of different types. If two different colors are used and the pattern makes uneven demands on the two shuttles, the shuttle SI to be more active than shuttle S2 for instance, the front pair of reserve bobbins will become depleted before the rear pair, but shuttle SI will be replenished from the full capacity of the front pair of stacks.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles each of which can be replenished from a pair of stacksof reserve bobbins, and that the bobbins from either pair are drawn alternately from the stacks for successive replenishments of the corresponding shuttle. It will also be seen that the bobbin releaser slides are provided with pivoted lifting lugs which are moved into and.

81 and transmitted through the releaser slides.

Each shuttle has its own pair of stacks and for this'reason the shuttle Si and S2, may if desired, 'be provided with different wefts and the associated stacks provided with corresponding reserve bobbins. Furthermore, the position of the pivoted lugs on either pair of releaser slides is independent of the lugs of the other pair of slides, and for this reason one shuttle maybe more active than theo'ther without interrupting the order of delivery of the bobbins from their stacks. While we have shown the upper lugs pivoted to their slides we do not necessarily wish to be limited to this construction, inasmuch as it is Sufficient if the pivoted lugs are alternately operative and cooperate with actuator fingers to ad- Vance a bobbin toward transfer position.

Ha'vi'n'gthus described our invention it will be seen'that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without'departing from the spirit and scope of the invenwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but What'we claim-is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom operating with twoshuttles which'are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a bobbin releaser'for eachstack, an actuator common to the releasers, means to move the actuator from the releasers of one pair of stacks to the releasers of the other pair of stacks when there is a change in the active shuttle, and releaser selector mechanism to cause the actuator to operate the releasers of either pair of releasers one at a time and alternately for successive replenishments of the corresponding shuttle.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having two stacks of reserve bobbins for the replenishment of a shuttle, a bobbin releaser for each stack to have a movement in a given direction to advance a bobbin of the corresponding stack toward replenishing position, an actuator for said releasers to move in said given direction preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom upon exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, and selector mechanism operated by said releasers to cause alternate movements of said releasers in said given direction by successive movements of said actuator in said given direction.

3. In a weft replenishing loom having two stacks of reserve bobbins for the replenishment of a shuttle, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable to advance a bobbin of the corresponding stack toward replenishing position, an actuator to move in a given direction preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom upon exhaustion of Weft in the shuttle, and selector mechanism operated by a force derived from the actuator to cause the latter by successive movements thereof in said given direction to move the releasers alternately.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having two stacks of reserve bobbins for the replenishment of a shuttle, a bobbin releaser for each stack, each releaser when moved being effective to ad'- vance a bobbin of the corresponding stack toward transfer position, an actuator for the releasers movable in a given direction preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom upon exhaustion of weft in the shuttle, and selector mechanism operated by a force derived from the actuator and transmitted through said releasers to cause said actuator by successive movements thereof in said'given direction to move the releasers alternately.

In a weft replenishing loom having two stacks of reserve bobbins for the replenishment of 'a shuttle, a bobbin releaser for each stack, each releas'er to have a movement to advance a bobbin of the corresponding stack toward replenishing position, an element 'on each releaser by which the latter is moved, an actuator moving in' a given direction preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom to engage one or'the other of said elements to give the aforesaid movement to the corresponding releaser, and selector mechanism operated by each releaser'when having said movement by engagement of said actuator with the corresponding element'to change the relation of said elements and actuator to cause the latter on the next movement thereof in said'given direction to move the other'element and releaser therefor.

' 6. In a weft replenishing loom having a frame supporting 'tWo stacks of reserve bobbins for the replenishment .of 'a shuttle, a bobbin releaser for each stack tov have a movement to advance a bobbin of the corresponding stack toward replenishing position, an actuator for said releasers moving in a given direction to effect said movement of the releasers when weft exhaustion is indicated in the shuttle, a positioner pivoted on the frame for movement to two different positions by said releasers when the latter have said movements alternately, a lifter element on each releaser to be engaged by the actuator when the latter moves in said given direction, means tending to move each element into the path of said actuator when the latter moves in said given direction, said actuator normally registeredwith but one of said elements at a time and when engaging the element registered therewith causing the corresponding releaser to rock the positioner from one position to another position, said positioner when moving to said other position moving' the last named element out of register with said actuator and the means corresponding to the other element moving the latter into registry with the actuator.

7. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a shuttle to be replenished by bobbins drawn from two stacks of reserve bobbins, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable in opposite directions to effect bobbin release, an actuator movable in one direction preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom to effect lifting of a releaser and movable regularly in the opposite direction to effect lowering of a raised releaser, a depressing lug on each releaser normally below the path of said actuator when the latter moves in said opposite direction but movable into said path when the corresponding releaser is raised, a lifting lug movably mounted on each releaser; and means to cause said lifting lugs to move alternately into the path of said actuator when the latter has successive movements in said one direction.

8. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a shuttle to be replenished by bobbins drawn from two stacks of reserve bobbins, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable in opposite directions to effect bobbin release, an actuator movable in one direction preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom to effect lifting of a releaser and movable regularly in the opposite direction to effect lowering of a raised releaser, a depressing lug on each releaser normallybelow the path of said actuator when the latter moves in said opposite direction but movable into said path when the corresponding releaser is raised,

a lifting lug movably mounted on each releaser, and means operated by said releasers one at a time to cause said lifting lugs to move alternately into the path of said actuator-When the latter has successive movements in said one direction.

9. In a weft replenishing loom operating with a shuttle to be replenished by bobbins drawn from two stacks of reserve bobbins, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable in opposite directions to effect bobbin release, an actuator movable in one direction preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom to effect lifting of a releaser and movable regularly in the opposite direction to effect lowering of a raised releaser, a depressing lug on each releaser normally below the path of said actuator when the latter moves in said opposite direction but movable into said path when the corresponding releaser .is raised, a lifting lug pivoted to each releaser and movable into and out of the path of said actuator when the latter has said first motion, and means operated by said actuator when having succes- 'sive movements in said one direction to effect movement of said pivoted lugs alternately into the last named path to cause alternate'lifting movements of said releasers.

10. In a weft replenishing loom operating'with a shuttle to be replenished by bobbinsdrawn from two stacks of reserve bobbins, a bobbin releaser for each stack movable in opposite directions to effect bobbin release, an actuator movable along one path preparatory to a replenishing operation of the loom to effect lifting of the releasers and movable at regular intervals in the opposite direction along a second path to effect lowering of any raised releaser, a depressing lug on. each releaser normally below the second path but liftable into said second path when the corresponding releaser is raised, a lifting lug pivoted on each releaser and movable into and out of the first path, means tending to move each lifting lug into said first path, and positioning mechanism for said lifting lugs positioned for movement by each releaser when rising and effective when moved to cause one of said lugs to move into and the other of said lugs to move out of the first path, said positioning mechanism and the means for said lifting lugs cooperating to reverse the relationship of said lifting lugs with respect to said first path for each movement of said actuator along the first path.

11, In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttle boxes and two shuttles therefor which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve. bobbins for each shuttle box, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks, one releaser for each stack, a selector and actuator mechanism for said releasers corresponding to the active shuttle box, means effective upon depletion of weft in either shuttle to cause said mechanism tooperate whichever releaser registers therewith of the pair of releasers corresponding to the depleted active shuttle, and means to cause said mechanism to operate alternately the releasers of either one of said pairs of releasers for successive depletions of the shuttle corresponding to the latter.

12. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles and shuttle boxes therefor which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks, one releaser for each stack, a selector and actuator mechanism for said releasers, means operated by the shuttle boxes to register said mechanism with the pair of. releasersv corresponding to the active shuttle, means effective upon depletion of weft in either shuttle to cause said mechanism to move in a given direction to operate whichever releaser registers therewith of the pair of releasers corresponding to. the depleted shuttle, and means operated by one of the releasers corresponding to the. depleted shuttle to cause the other releaser corresponding to the depleted. shuttle to be operatedv by the mechanism when the latter has its nex movement in said given. d rection.

13. In a Weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles and shuttle boxes therefor which are active, for alternate periods, a pair of stacks of reserve. bobbins for each shuttle, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks. one releaser foreach stack, a selector and actuator mechanism for said releasers, means controlled by the shuttle boxes to, register said mechanism with the pair of releasers corresponding to the active shuttle, means effective upon depletion of weft in either shuttle to cause said mechanism to move in a given direction to operate whichever releaser registers therewith of the pair of releasers corresponding to the depleted active shuttle, and means operated by said releasers to cause said mechanism to cooperate alternately with the releasers of either given pair of releasers when the mechanism has successive movements in said given direction with respect to said given pair of releasers.

14. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles and two shuttle boxes therefor which-are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks, one releaser for each stack and each releaser to have a movement to advance a bobbin of the corresponding stack toward replenishing position, a selector shifted in timed relation with the shuttle boxes to assume two operative positions, one position for each .of said pairs of releasers, means operative when the selector is in either operative position to rock said selector in a given direction to give said movement to the releaser aligned with the selector if the shuttle corresponding to said operative position is exhausted of weft, and means to cause said selector when having successive rockings in said given direction for a given operative position to be aligned alternately with the releasers of the pair of releasers corresponding to the given position.

15. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles and two shuttle boxes therefor which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks, one releaser for each stack and each releaser movable in one direction to initiate bobbin release and movable in the opposite direction to-complete bobbin release, a selector shifting in timed relation with the shuttle boxes to assume two operative positions, one position for each of said pair of releasers, means operative when the selector is in either given operative position to rock said selector in one direction along either of two paths, depending upon the shifted position of the selector, if the shuttle corresponding to said given operative position is exhausted of weft, means to rock said selector at regular intervals in the opposite direction, a lifting lug movably mounted on each releaser, the lifting lugs of either given pair of releasers movable into and out of the corresponding path of said selector, and means to cause said lifting lugs of either given pair of releasers to. move alternately into the corresponding path for successive rockings of the selector along the last named path, said selector operative thereafter to lower the depressing lug of a previously raised releaser to complete bobbin release.

16. In a weft replenishing loom operating with two shuttles and two shuttle boxes which are alternately active, a pair of stacks of reserve bobbins for each shuttle, a pair of bobbin releasers for each pair of stacks, one releaser for each stack and each releaser movable in one direction to initiate bobbin release and: movable in the opposite direction to complete bobbin release,

a selector shifting in timed relation with the shuttle boxes to move laterally to either of two operative positions, one position for each pair of releasers, means operative when the selector is in either operative position to rock said selector in one direction if the shuttle corresponding to said operative position is exhausted of weft to move a releaser of the pair of releasers corresponding to the depleted shuttle in said one direction, means to rock said selector at regular intervals in the opposite direction, a lifting lug pivoted to each releaser, and a lifting lug positioner for each pair of releasers and the corresponding lifting lugs, each positioner to be shifted, by the corresponding releasers to move the corresponding pair of lifting lugs alternately into operative position with respect to the selector when the latter is in the corresponding lateral position and has successive rocking movements in said one direction, said selector when moving in said opposite direction and aligned with a depressing lug of a previously raised releaser acting to lower the latter.

17. A bobbin releaser for a weft replenishing magazine operating with an actuator and a bobbin cradle, said releaser having an elongated body with provision at one end thereof for cooperation with the bobbin cradle, an operating member to cooperate with the actuator when in normal position and ext-ended laterally from the releaser, a pivotal connection between the member and the releaser, and a stop on the member for engagement with the releaser, said member being counter-weighted to hold the stop against the releaser with the member in normal position.

18. A bobbin releaser for a Weft replenishin magazine operating with an actuator and a bobbin cradle, said releaser having an elongated body with provision at one end thereof for cooperation with the bobbin cradle, an operating member to cooperate with the actuator when in normal position and extended laterally from the releaser, a pivotal connection between the member and the releaser, said member having a finger and a stop and being counter-weighted to hold the stop against the releaser with the finger extending laterally from the releaser in position for engagement by the actuator.

19. A bobbin releaser for a weft replenishing magazine operating with an actuator and a bobbin cradle, said releaser having an elongated body with provision at one end thereof for cooperation with the bobbin cradle, an operating member to cooperate with the actuator when in normal position and extended laterally from th releaser, a pivotal connection between the member and the releaser, said member having a finger and a stop and being counter-weighted to hold the stop against the releaser With the finger extending laterally from the releaser to a point displaced with respect to the pivotal connection with reference to the length of the releaser.

20. A bobbin releaser for a weft replenishing magazine operating with an actuator and having a bobbin cradle, said releaser having an elongated body one end of which is adapted for cooperation With the cradle, a lifting lug pivoted to the releaser and having a laterally extending finger, and a counter-Weighted stop on the member opposite said finger with respect to the axis thereof for engagement with the releaser to hold the finger laterally with respect to the releaser for engagement by the actuator.

21. A lug positioner for a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a pair of bobbin releasing slides each having a lug pivoted thereto for cooperation with an actuator, said positioner having a pair of arms, one for engagement with each of said releasers, and a flexible member secured to and extending from the positioner transversely of the arms for engagement with the lugs.

22. A lug positioner for a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a pair of bobbin releasing slides each having a lug pivoted thereto for cooperation with an actuator, said positioner having an axis of rotation and having an arm on each side of said axis, one arm for engagement with each of said releasers, and a flexible member secured to said positioner and extending laterally from said arms to be located between said releasers for engagement with said lugs.

23. A lug positioner for a weft replenishing mechanism operating with a pair of bobbin releasing slides each having a lug pivoted thereto for cooperation with an actuator, said positioner having a pair of arms, one for engagement'with each of said releasers, and a flexible member secured to and extending from the positioner transversely of the arms for engagement with the lugs, said positioner also having provision to cooperate with a detent for holding said positioner in either of two positions.

BENJAMIN W. BROUWER. WALTER A. PATTERSON 

